Category Archives: Who God Says You Are

2015 Ring In The New Year!!

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Ring in the New Year!

A Word to me from the Lord for 2015…

#1 in my Sermon Series, called:  “Make Me More Like You, Jesus!”

This is what the Lord told me:

“Don’t say “ALL” when speaking of God’s children…Don’t lump them all together like herding cattle…I don’t do that!  I love each and every one of them with a great Love!  I made them all different, with unique talents and gifts!  I’ve even numbered every hair on their heads (Luke 12:7)…I know everything about them…I know their past and their future!  My Father sent Me to give My life for everyone in the world…so NONE would perish!!  NONE!  Everlasting Life!  I’m seeking, and I will find, each individual soul who believes in Me (John 3:16)!  With an Everlasting LOVE!!  (Jeremiah 31:3)

Don’t put your labels on them, any longer!!!  No longer say, “ALL Men, ALL Women, ALL Kids, ALL Teens, ALL Young People, etc.’  No longer say, ‘ALL Married People, ALL Single People, ALL Elderly People, etc.’  No longer say, ‘ALL Working People, ALL Retired People, etc.’  No longer say, ‘ALL Whites, ALL Blacks, ALL Hispanics, ALL Gays, ALL Straight, etc.’  No longer say, “ALL Americans, ALL Asians, ALL Europeans, ALL Indians, etc.’  No longer say, ‘ALL Christians, ALL Jews, ALL Muslims, ALL Atheists, ALL Religions, ALL Congregations, ALL Churches, ALL Synagogues, ALL Mosques, etc.’  No longer say, ALL Working People, ALL Homeless People, etc.’  No longer say, ‘ALL Police Officers, ALL Teachers, ALL Doctors, ALL Lawyers, ALL Clergy, ALL Politicians, etc.’

ALL!  ALL! ALL!  No longer!!

I see each person in this world created by The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as an individual soul…you MUST see them that way, too!!  They’re people…My children…children of the Almighty God…the Creator of ALL!!  My LOVE embraces them ALL!

Media!  No longer can the world think and lump everyone together just to make a news story sell!  Treat people as individuals!

As children of God, be responsible for yourself to do right and expect individuals to do the same…this is a call for children of God to be more like Christ!

Act accordingly!!”  Amen!

God-Given Vision!!

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Recently, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me…

About the vision I received from God…

Concerning our “ALIVE! Worship service!

https://godssceneryandpromises.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/vision-from-go…-alive-worship/

He said to me,

“Your vision from God is not meant to be a one-man show!

God’s talking to other people at the same time…

Giving them a hunger to serve Him in other ways to fulfill His Plan…

Then He brings all aspects together in perfect harmony to complete His vision…

When it’s His vision…

It’s a beautiful thing…

Completely orchestrated by Him…

It’s no longer just your vision from Him…

It’s His vision for all of you…

A vision for His Kingdom!

Wow!

Now, it can LIVE…

And move as He gives it breath…

As He puts life into it!

Dry bones will come together and walk…

As He puts motion into nothing…

Something lifeless…

Comes ALIVE!

Let Jesus live in you!

Dream your vision…

‘Til it’s given back to Him…

He’ll create something from nothing!

Listen, Obey, Praise!

He dwells in the Praises of His people!

Let God’s vision go where it will go…

Let God take it to the heights…

You couldn’t take it on your own!

As it rises…

Let it soar…

And watch what God can do with it…

With you!

And the team God has placed around you for His glory!

He’s given these people to you to work with…

Help them catch God’s vision, too…

Encourage them…

Pray for them…

And let them soar…

Along with the vision of God!

Hand it all back to God…

He’ll entrust it back to you!!

Be His servant…

He’ll be your God!

Be His hands and feet in this world…

You are no longer a one-man show!

You’re reaching out…

With the power of the God of the Universe…

Leading you…

Cheering you on!

Rest in His Plans!!”

Amen!

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Recently, I’ve also read these powerful words by T.D. Jakes…

“God has moved on

You can’t plan your future…

If you’re hanging around the tomb!”

 

“Pray about moving into different dimensions…

Where you’ll grow…

Learn new things…

And be challenged again…

It’s time to move to the next level.”

 

“Your ceiling…

On this level…

Becomes your floor…

On the next level!!”

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I highly recommend his book…

Instinct:  The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive

by T.D. Jakes

Something In The Water???

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Our symbol of faith in Jesus…

And obedience to Christ our Lord!!!

He said, “I’ve been where you’ve been before.
Down every hallway’s a slamming door.”
No way out, no one to come and save me
Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave me

Then somebody said what I’m saying to you
Opened my eyes and told me the truth.”
They said, “Just a little faith, it’ll all get better.”
So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I’m changed
And now I’m stronger

There must’ve been something in the water
Oh, there must’ve been something in the water

Well, I heard what he said and I went on my way
Didn’t think about it for a couple of days
Then it hit me like a lightning late one night
I was all out of hope and all out of fight

Couldn’t fight back the tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, “God, if you’re there come and rescue me.”
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I’m changed

And now I’m stronger

There must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water

And now I’m singing along to amazing grace
Can’t nobody wipe this smile off my face
Got joy in my heart, angels on my side
Thank God almighty, I saw the light
Gonna look ahead, no turning back
Live everyday, give it all that I have
Trust in someone bigger than me
Ever since the day that I believed I am changed
And now I’m stronger

There must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, there must be something in the water
Oh, yeah

I am changed
Stronger

I’m free.

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Matthew 3:11
“I baptize you with water for repentance,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I,
whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Acts 22:16
“And now why do you wait?
Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins,
calling on His Name.”
Matthew 28:19
“Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
Amen!!
I’m changed…
I’m stronger…
I’m free!
Thank you, Jesus!!
 

Just Surviving??? We Were Made To Thrive!!!

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My friend, Stephanie wrote this on Facebook…

“As a kid, I read The Swiss Family Robinson,

a book about a family that was shipwrecked

and stranded on a desert island.

As their ship sank in a violent storm, all of the lifeboats were taken

and the Robinson family was left to go down with the ship.

Thinking quickly, the resourceful and determined Daddy Robinson

strapped them all tightly to makeshift rafts of loose wood

or whatever would float.

He then sent his family,

one by one,

out on the water,

bound tightly to their only hope

and the next morning the family

was reunited on an island where they lived until rescued.

When God’s promises take longer to happen than we hoped,

frustration and discouragement easily wear us down

and batter us loose of our hope.

Simply, ‘holding on’

may not be enough after a while.

If Daddy Robinson had sent the children into the angry waves

merely grasping their rafts,

they would all have surely perished.

No!

He TIED the children to what would save them.

Then it didn’t matter if they grew weak or tired.

They could even have passed out

and stayed afloat because,

for all practical purposes,

they were a part of that raft.

God’s promises fulfill themselves.

Attach yourself to the promise.

Bind yourself to it.

Travel with the promise

instead of simply trying to remember it.

Intentionally, stubbornly, defiantly even,

make it part of you.

You’ll do so much better than just survive.”

You’ll Thrive!!!!

“…the idea of ‘Thrive’ came out of our student ministry.

For years I’ve been using the idea of Psalm One

in showing them what a believer looks like…

If you’re not getting into the Word for God to define Himself to you,

you will define God with what makes sense to you

and what makes sense to us is,

‘I better do good or I’m in big trouble’

and ‘He’s going to stick with me for so long,

but I’m going to blow it.’

That’s not the picture that the Bible has.

God didn’t put you here just so you could survive through hard times.

He put you here to thrive,

to dig in

and to reach out

and this record is an effort to draw a picture of what a believer,

a follower of Jesus, would look like

if they dug into their roots

and understood God and themselves more.”

-Mark Hall-

https://www.castingcrowns.com/music/lyrics/thrive

Dig Deep…and Thrive!!

Here in this worn and weary land
Where many a dream has died
Like a tree planted by the water
We never will run dry

So living water flowing through
God, we thirst for more of You
Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire

Just to know You and to make You known
We lift Your name on high
Shine like the sun, make darkness run and hide
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive

Into Your word, were digging deep
To know our Fathers heart
Into the world, were reaching out
To show them who You are

Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable
Love unstoppable, anything is possible

Oh, Yeah…Amen!!

Lay It Down…

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At the Cross where your Freedom’s found!!!!

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Matthew 11:28

“Come to me,

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.”

Problems???

Sorrows???

Hit rock bottom???

Smile! 

Pray!!! 

Stand up straight! 

Breathe!

Problems…

Can’t keep you from living now!

Shake ‘em off!

Lay ‘em down!

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At the Cross where your Freedom’s found!!! 

Stand up!

March on! 

Be strong!

Don’t give up! 

Don’t get caught up in your feelings!

Time for laughter!

Time for pain!

Time for doubt!

Time for faith! 

Believe you can find the strength…

To get back up on your feet! 

Lay it down!

Don’t hold on so tight! 

Freedom’s found… 

When you let God take over the fight!

 Surrender!

You’re free again!

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This is a sermon in a song!!  

Amen!!

Psalm 55:22

“Cast your cares on the LORD

and He will sustain you;

He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

You’re Brand New Now…Ya Gotta Let Go Of Your Past!!

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Isaiah 43:18-19

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past. 

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up;

do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the dessert

and streams in the wasteland.”

Brand new!!

Is that person in the mirror looking back at you?

It’s true!

But, you can’t see it…

‘Cause you’re stuck on what you’ve been through…

You got that white knuckle, red faced…

Kung fu grip on all your chains..

But, that’s not who are…

I’m here to let you know…

You gotta let it go…

You were made for something more…

So, come on…

And let it go!!

Tell me why…

You’d think that you deserve a life of just getting by…

You are alive!!!

Stop taking flowers to the grave of the old you that died…

If God can take your sin and free ya…

Forget, just like amnesia…

Why are you holding on?

I’m here to let you know…

You gotta let it go…

You were made for something more…

So, come on…

And let it go!!

Let it go!

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 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore,

if anyone is in Christ,

the new creation has come:

The old has gone,

the new is here!”

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“Brand New looks so good on you!!”

Amen! 

Come On, Lord, Write Your Story On My Heart!

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The world asks…

Is your story still unwritten???

Yes…

But, it’s not my story…

It’s Your story, Lord…

 I want written on my heart!

Don’t write your own story…

Let Him write His story on your heart…

His story is better!!

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Photo by Kenneth Swett

“Write Your Story”

 is a song about being a blank slate

and letting your life be open to whatever story God wants to write.

I think for so many of us

it’s easy to feel like we have to come up with this great plan

for how we’re going to use the gifts God gives us for Him,

but I really feel like He just wants our willingness to be used however He sees fit.

I’ve always tried to live my life with an open hand,

trusting God to take me where He wants to go.

Hopefully this song encourages others to hand God the pen of their lives.” 

-Francesca Battistelli-

http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/lyrics/new/track.asp?track_id=17302

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Photo by Kenneth Swett

They say You’re the King of everything The One who taught the wind to sing The Source of the rhythm my heart keeps beating

They say You can give the blind their sight And You can bring the dead to life You can be the hope my soul’s been seekin’

I wanna tell You now that I believe it I wanna tell You now that I believe it I do, that You can make me new, oh

I’m an empty page I’m an open book Write Your story on my heart Come on and make Your mark

Author of my hope Maker of the stars Let me be Your work of art Won’t You write Your story on my heart

Write Your story, write Your story Come on and write Your story, write Your story Won’t You write Your story on my heart

My Life I know it’s never really been mine So do with it whatever You like I don’t know what Your plan is But I know it’s good, yeah

I want my history To be Your legacy Go ahead and show this world What You’ve done in me And when the music fades I want my life to say

I let You write your story, write Your story Write Your story, write Your story

Amen!

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God speaks clearly…

He’s always speaking to us…

Through everything we see, hear, and touch…

Everywhere we go…

He’s given us His book…

The Bible…

The story of who we are…

And the enormous lengths He’s been willing to go through…

To bring us back home!

Slow down and look around you…

God is calling your name!

He’s ready to write your story!!

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Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,”

declares the Lord,

“plans to prosper you

and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope

and a future.”

Safe Passage….

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Photos by Cheryl Madasz Butler

“The message relates to many and never gets old.

It speaks out to those that are hurting, those that are going through tough things.

It’s a reminder that the God who brought sight to the blind and brought the lame to their feet

is the same God who holds you in His arms today.

It’s my sincere prayer that the simple message of this song

would resonate in people’s hearts.

I wrote it after a moving conversation I had with a man who told me his story.

It was a story of God’s faithfulness during a struggling time.

How God can turn things that seem so grim into things that give Him glory.

Think of all those that Jesus healed and saved

while He was on earth

from great tragedy and sickness and even death.

It gave people all the more reason to praise Him!”

—Phil Wickham
Kevin Davis, from Christian Music Review writes, 
Safe 
“serves to encourage, strengthen and remind listeners
that they are not alone,
‘You will be safe in His arms,
You will be safe in His arms,
The hands that hold the world
Are holding your heart,
This is the promise He made
He will be with you always,
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms.'”

Your dreams have fallen all apart?

Left you with a tired and broken heart?

You think you’re on your own?

No, you’re not alone!

Heard of the One who can calm the raging sea?

Gives sight to the blind, pulls the lame up to their feet?

Love so strong, He never lets you go?

No, you’re not alone!

His Voice brings the dead back to life…

The very same Voice that calls you now to rise…

Hear Him now, He’s calling you home…

You’ll never be alone!

You will be safe in His arms…

These are the hands that built the mountains…

The hands that calmed the sea…

These are the arms that hold the heavens…

They are holding you & me…

These are the hands that healed the leper…

Pulled the lame up to their feet…

These are the arms that were nailed to a cross…

To break our chains and set us free!

You will be safe in His arms…

Proverbs 18:10

The Name of the Lord is a strong tower;

The righteous run to it and are safe.”

Amen!

Grace Was Made For People Like Me!!

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John 1:14

“The Word

became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

We have seen His Glory,

the Glory of the One and Only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of Grace and Truth.”

And you!!

Be honest with God…

He’ll never let you go…

Jesus, we need You…

Lord, help us to believe…

Show us Your arms are open…

Your blood redeems…

Show me You can love…

Even me…

Show me Grace was made for…

People like me…

Amen!

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1 Corinthians 1:3

“Grace and Peace to you from

God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.”